CD/CD-ROM apparatus

ABSTRACT

In a disk drive apparatus for driving a CD or CD-ROM having a disk tray with a recess, the recess is provided with a plurality of pawls that keep the disk stable when it is loaded in the recess and the apparatus is vertical. In this way, unexpected contact of the outer circumference of the disk with the outer circumference of the recess is avoided. The recess is moreover provided with insulators that fully allow deformation or displacement of a base unit in one direction, but minimize it in other directions. External vibrations acting on the apparatus when it is vertical are therefore effectively damped, and rotation of the disk in the apparatus is steady.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/425,155 filed on Apr.19, 1995 now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a disk apparatus such as a CD player or CD ROMdrive. More particularly, it relates to a device for mounting arecording and/or playback disk on a disk tray, and loading it in a diskapparatus. Still further, it relates to a damper for a frame to which adisk table and optical pickup are attached.

2. Description of Related Art

In disk apparatuses such as CD players or CD ROM drives, a horizontalopening is formed in the body of the apparatus that is shaped like aflat box, the apparatus being provided with a disk tray that can befreely inserted in the opening or removed from it. A front panel toclose the opening is formed in a one-piece construction with the disktray. An effectively circular recess 3 is formed in an upper surface 2bof a disk tray 2, as shown in FIG. 36A. A disk 4 for recording and/orplayback, for example an optical or opto-magnetic disk such as a CD orCD-ROM, is inserted in the recess 3, mounted on a base 3a, and the disk4 is then loaded horizontally in the disk apparatus by means of the tray2.

A notch 5 is formed running from the center of the recess 3 of the tray2 in the loading direction. A disk table, optical pickup and chuckingpulley are installed in upper and lower positions inside the body of thedisk apparatus.

When the disk tray is ejected outside the disk device, the disk tableand optical pickup in the apparatus are retracted underneath the tray 2around a pivot support by a base unit. The chucking pulley is supportedby a pulley holder.

When the tray 2 has been loaded in the disk apparatus, the base unit isrotated about the pivot support. The disk table and optical pickup areinserted in the notch 5 in the tray 2 from underneath, a conicalcentering piece in the disk table engages with a center hole 4a in thedisk 4 from underneath the disk, and the disk 4 is thereby lifted abovethe base 3a of the recess 3 of the tray 2. Simultaneously, chucking ofthe disk 4 is performed between the chucking pulley and disk table, andthe optical pickup is brought close to the underside of the disk 4.

The disk 4 is then rotated together with the disk table by a spindlemotor, and an object lens of the optical pickup tracks the disk 4 in aradial direction so as to perform recording and/or playback of the disk4.

In this type of disk apparatus, the base unit was elastically supportedin the apparatus by a damping device. However, this conventional diskapparatus was designed exclusively for horizontal operation, the disk 4being mounted and loaded horizontally on the base 3a of the recess 3 ofthe disk tray 2. The apparatus was not suited to vertical operation.

As shown in FIG. 36B, if the disk tray 2 and body of the apparatus arein a vertical position, the recess 3 is then vertical, so the disk 4slips under its own weight off a taper surface 3b of the outercircumference of the recess 3 in the direction e when it is attempted tomount the disk 4 in the recess 3.

However, in the CD-ROM drive industry, there is an increasing desire touse such disk apparatuses vertically in an effort to make use of narrowspaces due to the increasing compactness of computers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To satisfy this need, this invention therefore aims to provide a diskapparatus that may freely be used in a horizontal, or in two vertical,directions by adding an extremely simple construction to the apparatus.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a disk apparatus thatis fully protected against external shocks by a damping effect (shockresistance), and wherein contact of the disk with the disk tray andfocusing errors are prevented when the apparatus is used vertically.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective showing a disk tray of a disk apparatusin the ejected state when used vertically according to a firstembodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2A is a side view in section taken along a line A--A in FIG. 1 ofthe disk tray in the apparatus according to the first embodiment of thisinvention. FIG. 2B is a side view in section, similar to that of FIG.2A, of a disk tray according to a second embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 3 is a view in perspective showing said disk tray according to thefirst embodiment of this invention in the ejected state when said trayis used horizontally.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of said disk tray according to the firstembodiment of this invention.

FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C are side views in section showing three differentstructures of a pawl.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a disk tray in a disk apparatus according to athird embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 7A is a plan view of a disk in a disk apparatus according to afourth embodiment of this invention. FIG. 7B is a side view in sectiontaken along a line 7B--7B of FIG. 7A.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of components showing a damping device of abase unit in a disk apparatus according to this invention.

FIG. 9 is a partial cutaway plan view of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a partial cutaway perspective view of an insulator in adamping device of the base unit.

FIG. 11A is a plan view of the aforesaid insulator, FIG. 11B is a sideview in section along a line 11B--11B of FIG. 11A, FIG. 11C is a planview in section along a line 11C--11C in FIG. 11B, FIG. 11D is a sideview in section along a line 11D--11D in FIG. 11B.

FIG. 12A is a plan view of an insulator supporting one edge of theaforesaid base unit. FIG. 12B is a view in section along a line 12B--12Bof FIG. 12A, FIG. 12C is a view in section along a line 12C--12C of FIG.12B.

FIG. 13A is a plan view of an insulator supporting another edge of theaforesaid base unit. FIG. 13B is a view in section along a line 13B--13Bof FIG. 13A, FIG. 13C is a view in section along a line 13C--13C of FIG.13B.

FIGS. 14A, 14B and 14C are side view in section showing one modificationof the aforesaid insulator.

FIG. 15 is a partial cutaway plan view showing the whole body of thedisk apparatus according to this invention for the purpose ofillustrating the emergency eject operation of the apparatus.

FIG. 16 is a partial cutaway plan view of the whole body of the diskapparatus for the purpose of illustrating the state of the disk tray ofthe disk apparatus according to this invention when loading is complete.

FIG. 17 is a partial cutaway plan view of the whole body of a diskapparatus according to this invention for the purpose of illustratingthe state when disk chucking is complete.

FIG. 18 is a partial cutaway view in perspective of the disk tray of thedisk apparatus according to this invention.

FIG. 19 is a partial cutaway plan view for the purpose of illustratingthe relative positional relationship between a rack, guide groove,pinion and guide pin of the aforesaid disk tray.

FIG. 20 is an enlarged sectional view along a line 20--20 in FIG. 18.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of components for the purpose ofillustrating the disk tray drive mechanism of the disk apparatusaccording to this invention.

FIGS. 22A and 22B are side views in section along a line 22--22 of FIG.21 for the purpose of illustrating a rotation drive of a base unit drivelever of the disk apparatus according to this invention.

FIG. 23 is a side view in section along a line 23--23 of FIG. 21 for thepurpose of describing an emergency eject operation of the disk apparatusaccording to this invention.

FIG. 24 is a plan view of the body of the disk apparatus according tothis invention when the upper cover of the disk apparatus has beenremoved.

FIG. 25 is a view in section along a line 25/26--25/26 of FIG. 24showing the chucking release state of a disk chucking mechanism of thedisk apparatus according to this invention.

FIG. 26 is a side view in section along the line 35B--35B of FIG. 24showing the chucking state of the disk chucking mechanism of the diskapparatus according to this invention.

FIG. 27 is a side view in section showing the state prior to diskchucking for the purpose of illustrating the dimensional relationship ofa recess in the disk tray and a centering piece of a disk table withrespect to the disk of the disk apparatus according to this invention.

FIG. 28 is a side view in section showing the state after disk chuckingis complete for the purpose of illustrating the dimensional relationshipof the recess in the disk tray and the centering piece of the disk tablewith respect to the disk of the disk apparatus according to thisinvention.

FIG. 29 is a perspective view illustrating the coordinates of anexternal vibration acting on the body of the disk apparatus according tothis invention when the apparatus is used horizontally.

FIG. 30 is a perspective view illustrating the coordinates of anexternal vibration acting on the body of the disk apparatus according tothis invention when the apparatus is used vertically.

FIG. 31 is a perspective view of the ejected state of the disk tray ofthe disk apparatus according to this invention when the apparatus isused horizontally.

FIG. 32 is a perspective view showing the state of the disk, whenloading is complete, of the disk apparatus according to this inventionwhen the apparatus is used horizontally.

FIG. 33 is a perspective view illustrating the insulators of the diskapparatus according to this invention.

FIG. 34 is a partial cutaway plan view of FIG. 33.

FIG. 35A is a side view in section illustrating an insulator of FIG. 33.

FIG. 35B is a plan view in section along a line M--M of FIG. 35A.

FIG. 36A is a side view in section of a conventional disk apparatus whenthe apparatus is used horizontally.

FIG. 36B is a side view in section of a conventional disk apparatus whenthe apparatus is used vertically.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Specific embodiments of a disk apparatus to which this invention hasbeen applied, will now be described with reference to FIG. 1-FIG. 35.

First Embodiment of Disk Tray

A first embodiment of a disk tray will be described with reference toFIG. 1, FIG. 2A, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4.

First, an outer circumferential surface 3c of a recess 3 of a disk tray2 is formed effectively in the shape of a right-angled cylindricalsurface with respect to a base 3a.

Next, four effectively plate-like pawls 14 are provided on an uppersurface 2b of the tray 2 on the outer circumference of the recess 3 ofthe tray 2. About half of these pawls 14 extend parallel to the base 3afrom the outer circumferential surface 3c of the recess 3 towards thecenter O₁ of the recess 3, pockets 15 which are hollow being formedbetween these pawls 14 and the base 3a.

These four pawls 14 are provided at four positions that are symmetricalwith respect to a center line P₁ in directions f, g in the widthdirection, and a center line P₂ in directions a, b in the lengthdirection, of the disk tray 2, as shown in FIG. 4.

The radius r₁ from the center O₁ of the recess 3 to mutually oppositeinner edges 14a of the four pawls 14, is arranged to be less than theradius r₂ of the disk 4. Further, an interval S₁ from the inner edge 14aof one of the pawls 14 on the two diagonals O₂, O₃ joining the centersof the four pawls 14 to the outer circumferential surface 3c on theopposite side of the recess 3 from the center O₁, is arranged to beslightly greater than the diameter (2r₂) of the disk 4.

The four pawls 14 may be formed in a one-piece construction with thetray 2 from a synthetic resin. Alternatively, the pawls 14 may be formedseparately from the tray 2, and attached thereto by an adhesive, byscrews, or by inserting lugs 17 with slots 16 into fixing holes 18formed in the upper surface 2b of the tray 2, as shown in FIG. 4C.

According to this first embodiment, the disk 4 is inserted in the recess3 of the tray 2 by sliding the disk into the recess in zig-zag fashionbetween the four pawls 14.

In other words, as shown by the dot-and-dash line in FIG. 4, the disk 4is inserted in the recess 3 from the direction h, and the lower left andlower right points 4P₁, 4P₂ on the outer circumference 4b of the disk 4are inserted in the pockets 15 in the lower left and lower right pawls14 in FIG. 4.

The lower left point 4P₁ of the outer circumference 4b of the disk 4 isbrought into contact from the direction h with the outer circumferentialsurface 3b of the recess 3 on one of the diagonals O₂, and after pushingthe upper right point 4P₃ on the outer circumference of the disk 4 intothe upper right paw 14 in a direction i in FIG. 2, the disk 4 is movedin a direction j along the other diagonal O₃ so as to insert the upperright point 4P₃ on the outer circumference 4b of the disk 4 into thepocket 15 inside the upper right pawl 14, as shown by the dotted line inFIG. 4.

The lower right point 4P₂ on the outer circumference 4b of the disk 4then comes in contact from the direction j with the outer circumference3b of the recess 3 on the other diagonal O₃, and the upper left point4P₄ on the circumference 4b of the disk 4 is pushed in the direction iin FIG. 2 into the upper left pawl 14.

Finally, the disk 4 is moved in a direction k parallel to the base 3a ofthe recess 3, and the upper left point 4P₄ on the outer circumference 4bof the disk 4 is inserted in the pocket 15 inside the upper left pawl 14until the center of the disk 4 coincides with the center line P₂ asshown in FIG. 4.

When the disk 4 is removed from the recess 3 of the tray 2, the disk 4is slid out of the four pawls 14 in a zigzag fashion in a reverseoperation to the above.

However, if it is simply attempted to pull the disk 4 out in a directionm in FIG. 2 parallel to the base 3a of the recess 3, the four pawls 14catch on the outer circumference 4b of the disk 4, so the disk 4 cannotbe removed from the recess 3.

According to this disk apparatus, therefore, as shown by FIG. 1 and FIG.2A, a body 1 and the disk tray 2 of the disk apparatus can be used notonly horizontally, but also vertically. When the apparatus is usedvertically, either one of the two edges 2c, 2d in the width direction ofthe tray 2 may be in the lower position, so vertical use actuallyimplies two directions.

When the apparatus is used vertically, the disk 4 inserted in the recess3 is maintained stable and is firmly held in its vertical position bythe four pawls 14. Hence, the disk 4 cannot fall in a direction n ofFIG. 2A out of the recess 3.

While the disk 4 is maintained stable in its vertical position in therecess 3, it may be loaded or ejected in the directions a, b in the body1 by means of the tray 2 of the disk apparatus.

Further, the outer circumference 3c of the recess 3 is formedeffectively perpendicular to the base 3a. When the apparatus is usedvertically, therefore, the outer circumference 3c is horizontal, and thedisk 4 can therefore be held in the recess 3 very stably.

A pair of notches 19 are also formed in an opening 1b of a front panel1a of the body 1 of the disk apparatus.

Second Embodiment of the Disk Tray

Next, a second embodiment of the disk tray will be described withreference to FIG. 2B, FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B.

According to the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5A, one of thepawls 14, two of the pawls 14 on the two diagonals O₂, O₃ shown in FIG.4, or all of the pawls 14, are constructed of an elastic material suchas rubber.

In this case, a base 14b of one of the pawls 14 is also formed of aelastic material such as rubber in a one-piece construction with thepawl 14, and the pawl 14 is attached to the upper surface 2b of the tray2 by adhesive or a screw via this base 14b as shown in FIG. 5A, or bymeans of the lug 17 as shown in FIG. 5C.

Alternatively, the pawl 14 may be attached to the upper surface 2b ofthe tray 2 by adhesive or a screw via the base 14b formed separatelyfrom the pawl 14 as shown in FIG. 5B, or by means of the lug 17 as shownin FIG. 5C. In this case, moreover, the base 14b may be formed in aone-piece construction with the upper surface 2b of the tray 2.

According to this second embodiment, the disk 4 may be simply insertedin the recess 3 by, for example, inserting the underside of the outercircumference 4b of the disk 4 obliquely in the direction h into apocket 15 in a lower pawl 14, and pushing the upper side of the outercircumference 4b of the disk 4 from the direction i into a pocket 15 inan upper pawl 14 in the recess 3 so as to bend the upper pawl 14 in thedirection i against the elastic force.

In this case, the disk 4 may be inserted in the recess 3 also by firstbending the pawl 14 elastically in the direction n opposite to thedirection i.

According to this second embodiment, the apparatus may be used in threeorientations, i.e. in the horizontal direction and two verticalorientations as in the case of the first embodiment.

Third Embodiment of the Disk Tray

Next, a third embodiment of the disk tray will be described withreference to FIG. 5C and FIG. 6.

According to this third embodiment, one of the pawls 14, two of thepawls 14 on the two diagonals O₂, O₃ shown in FIG. 4, or all of thepawls 14, are free to rotate in a direction s about the base 14b asshown in FIG. 5C. In this case, the pawl 14 or pawls 14 may beconstructed of a synthetic resin or of rubber.

The pawl 14 may then be moved between a position wherein the pawl 14enters the recess 3 as shown by the solid lines in FIG. 5C and FIG. 6,and a position wherein the pawl 14 lies outside the recess 3 as shown bythe dot-and-dash lines in FIG. 5C and FIG. 6, by providing a coin slot20 in the upper surface of the base 14b of the pawl 14 and inserting acoin 21 or the like to turn the pawl 14 through 180°.

According to the third embodiment, therefore, when the body 1 and tray 2of the disk apparatus are used horizontally, the pawls 14 may be movedoutside the recess 3 so that they do not interfere when the disk 4 isinserted in the recess. When the body 1 and tray 2 of the disk apparatusare used vertically, on the other hand, the pawls 14 are moved into therecess 3 so that disk 4 is held firmly in the recess.

The pawls 14 may also be moved in a straight line along the twodiagonals O₂, O₃ shown in FIG. 4 between a position where they areinside the recess 3, and a position where they are outside the recess 3.

Fourth Embodiment of Disk Tray

A fourth embodiment of the disk tray will now be described withreference to FIG. 7.

According to the fourth embodiment, a plurality of outer peripheralwalls 3d that constitute the outer circumferential surface 3c of therecess 3 are respectively formed of an elastic material such as rubberin a one-piece construction with one or two pawls 14. These walls 3d areprovided with a plurality of hooks 22 that press fit into a plurality offixing slots 23 formed in the upper surface of the tray 2, so that thewalls 3d can be attached to or removed from their positions on the outercircumference of the recess 3 of the tray 2 together with the pawls 14.

According to the fourth embodiment, the outer circumference 4b of thedisk 4 inserted in the recess 3 is safely protected by the outerperipheral walls 3d that have elasticity, and the outer circumferentialsurface 3c forms an acute angle θ with the base 3a so that the disk 4 isheld with even greater stability and reliability when it is used in avertical position.

Internal Construction of Disk Apparatus

Next, the internal construction of the disk apparatus will be describedwith reference to FIG. 8-FIG. 35.

Disk Apparatus Loading and Ejection

First, the essential features of loading and ejection of a disk 4 in adisk apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 3, FIG.29 and FIG. 30.

This disk apparatus has the function of playing back the disk 4 forrecording and/or playback, for example an optical or optomagnetic disksuch as a CD or CD-ROM. The disk 4 has a center hole 4a. In this case,the disk 4 has a diameter of approx. 12 cm (more precisely, 120±0.3 mm).

The body 1 of the disk apparatus is formed in the shape of a flat boxhaving the front panel 1a with the horizontal opening 1b. The disk tray2 is horizontally loaded into the body 1 in a loading direction a, andhorizontally ejected from the body 1 in an ejection direction b, fromthis opening 1b.

As described hereintofore, the disk 4 is mounted on the recess 3 of thetray 2, and the disk 4 is loaded in the body 1 in the direction a, andejected from the body 1 in the direction b, by means of the tray 2.

An eject button 107, and an emergency eject hole 108, are provided onthe lower side of the front panel 1a.

Disk Loading

To load the disk 4, the disk 4 is inserted and held in the recess 3 ofthe tray 2 as described for FIG. 1 or FIG. 3. When a front panel 2a ofthe loading tray 2 is pushed in the direction a, a loading switch, notshown, is switched ON, and the tray 2 is power loaded in the direction ainto the body 1, as shown in FIG. 29 or FIG. 30, by a disk tray drivemechanism to be described hereinafter.

Disk Ejection

To eject the disk 4 when the disk 4 is loaded as shown in FIG. 29 orFIG. 30, the eject button 107 is pressed so that an eject switch, notshown, is switched ON, or an eject signal is issued by a host computer.This activates the disk tray drive mechanism to be described hereinafterso that the tray 2 is power ejected in the direction b from the body 1as shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 3.

Emergency Eject

When the disk 4 is loaded as shown in FIG. 29 or FIG. 30, an emergencysuch as a power failure or electrical fault may occur so that powercannot be supplied to the apparatus. To emergency eject the disk 4, anemergency eject piece 109 shaped like a wire object such as a clip isinserted in the direction a into the eject hole 108 in the front panel1a of the body 1. An emergency eject mechanism, to be describedhereinafter, then operates so that the tray 2 is ejected in thedirection b from the body 1 of the disk apparatus by a certain distanceL₁ (FIG. 15). The front panel 2a of the tray 2 is then grasped, and thetray 2 is withdrawn manually in the direction b.

Disk Apparatus Body

Next, the construction of the body 1 of the disk apparatus will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 24-FIG. 30.

The body 1 of this disk apparatus comprises the front panel 1a and thechassis 111 constructed from a synthetic resin or the like, and a caseshaped like a flat box formed of an upper and lower cover 112, 113formed from stainless steel sheet. A printed board 114 is installedhorizontally between the lower part of the chassis 111 and the lowercover 113. A pair of horizontal left and right guide rails 115 formed ina one-piece construction along the two edges 2c, 2d in the widthdirection of the tray 2, are free to slide in a pair of horizontal leftand right guide grooves 196 formed on the inside of left and right walls111a of the chassis 111.

Disk Chucking Mechanism

A disk chucking mechanism M1 provided inside the body 1 of the diskapparatus will now be described with reference to FIG. 15-FIG. 17, andFIG. 24-FIG. 26.

This disk chucking mechanism M1 comprises a disk table 6 rotated by aspindle 12a of a spindle motor 12, and chucking pulley 8.

A pulley holder 11 is suspended horizontally between the upper edges ofthe left and right side walls 111a of the chassis 111 in an upperposition in the space for inserting the tray 2. The chucking pulley 8 isfreely engaged in a circular holder hole 11a formed in the middle partof the holder 11 such that it can move within certain limits in anup/down direction and a horizontal direction. A metal sheet 8a such asan aluminum sheet is horizontally embedded in the middle of the chuckingpulley 8, and a flange 8b formed in a one-piece construction with theouter circumference of the upper edge of the pulley 8 comes into contactwith the top of a flange 11b formed in a one-piece construction with thelower edge of the inner circumference of the holder hole 11a so that theflange 8b is suspended at a higher position than the loaded disk 4.

An effectively longitudinal opening 116 is formed approximately in themiddle of the chassis 111, a base unit 9 being disposed inside thisopening 116. The left and right sides of an end 9a in the direction a ofthe base unit 9 are supported by two insulators 119 formed of rubber orthe like that are fixed to the chassis 111 by means of a pair of leftand right fixing screws 118.

A unit base drive lever 120 is disposed perpendicular to the directionsa, b on the chassis 111 at the end of the opening 116 in the directionb. This lever 120 is formed of a synthetic resin or the like, and it isattached such that it is free to rotate up or down in the directions c,d above the chassis 111 on a pair of horizontal pivot axes 121 parallelto the directions a, b formed in a one-piece construction with one ofits ends. The middle of the end 9b in the direction b of the base unit 9is supported by means of an insulator 123 formed of rubber or the likethat is fixed to a tip 120a of the lever 120 by means of a fixing screw122.

The base unit 9 is therefore free to be rotated, by the lever 120 in theup/down directions c, d about the pair of left and right insulators 119as pivots, between a descent position shown in FIG. 25 and an ascentposition shown in FIG. 26.

The spindle motor 12 is fixed vertically pointing upwards at a positionnear the end 9b in the direction b of the base unit 9, and the disktable 6 is fixed horizontally on the upper end of its spindle 12a.

An opening 124 is formed further to the rear than the spindle motor 12of the base unit 9, a carriage 127 carrying an object lens 126 of anoptical pickup 7 being disposed inside this opening 124 such that it isfree to move in the directions a, b.

The carriage 127 is guided by a pair of left and right guide shafts 128attached to the base unit 9, and the carriage 127 is moved in thedirections a, b by a linear motor mechanism M2 comprising a pinion 131driven via a gear train 130 by a motor 129 attached to the base unit 9,and a rack 132 fixed to the carriage 127.

Disk Chucking

First, when the base unit 9 has descended in the direction c to itslower position under its own weight as shown in FIG. 25, the disk 4 isloaded horizontally in the direction a into the body 1 of the apparatusby the tray 2 as described hereintofore so that the disk 4 is insertedbetween the table 6 and chucking pulley 8.

When loading is complete, the lever 120 is driven in the direction d asdescribed hereinafter, and the base unit 9 is lifted in the direction dto its ascent position so that it is horizontal as shown in FIG. 26.

The table 6 is then inserted from the direction d into the notch 5 ofthe tray 2, the centering piece 6a of the table 6 engages from thedirection d with the center hole 4a of the disk 4, and the table 6pushes the disk 4 up inside the recess 3 of the tray 2.

The table 6 also lifts the chucking pulley 8 up together with the disk4, and the metal plate 8a of the pulley 8 is simultaneously pulled downby an annular chucking magnet 6d (FIG. 8) embedded in the upper surfaceof the centering piece 6a. The pulley 8 then performs magnetic chuckingof the outer circumference of the center hole 4a of the disk 4 on thetable 6.

Disk Playback

After chucking of the disk 4, the disk 4 is rotated together with thetable 6 that is rotated by the spindle motor 12, the carriage 127 of theoptical pickup 7 is moved in the directions a, b by the linear motormechanism M2. and playback of the disk 4 is performed by the object lens126.

Disk Chucking Release

After playback of the disk 4, the lever 120 is driven in the direction cas described hereinafter, and the base unit 9 falls in the direction cunder its own weight as shown in FIG. 25. The centering piece 6a of thetable 6 is therefore released from the center hole 4a of the disk 4, anddescends in the direction c to a lower position than the tray 2. Thedisk 4 is thereby again placed on the recess 3 of the tray 2, and theflange 8b of the pulley 8 comes into contact with the top of the flange11b of the pulley holder 11 so that the pulley 8 is again suspended in aposition above the disk 4.

After chucking is released, the disk 4 is ejected in the direction bfrom the body 1 of the disk apparatus by the tray 2.

Disk Tray Drive Mechanism

Next, a disk tray drive mechanism M3 for loading and ejecting the disktray 2 will be described with reference to FIG. 15 FIG. 26.

This disk tray drive mechanism M3 comprises a rack 136 shapedeffectively liked a letter J and a parallel guide groove 137 formed in aone-piece construction on the underside of the tray 2 that is formed ofa synthetic resin or the like, a pinion 138 that drives the rack 136 andguide pin 139 that moves along the guide groove 137, a motor 140 thatrotates the pinion 138 forwards or backwards, a gear base 141 rotated bythe guide pin 139, and a cam lever 142 that is rotated by this gear base141 so as to rotate the aforesaid lever 120.

The gear base 141 is formed of a synthetic resin or the like. Aneffectively cylindrical boss 141a formed in a one-piece construction onthe base of this gear base 141 fits over the outer circumference of avertical pivot shaft 143 formed in a one-piece construction with thechassis 111, the gear base 141 being free to rotate in directions A, Babout the pivot shaft 143. The guide pin 139 is formed in a one-piececonstruction with the gear base 141 so that the pin projects verticallyfrom the tip of the gear base 141, and the pinion 138 fits over theouter circumference of the guide pin 139 so that the pinion is free torotate.

A belt 146 is wound around a drive pulley 144 fixed on the outercircumference of a motor shaft 140a of the motor 140 that is attached tothe chassis 111 such that the motor is pointing upwards, and around adriven pulley 145 attached so that it is free to rotate on the outercircumference of the boss 141a. An intermediate gear 147, consisting ofa two-stage gear, fits over the outer circumference of a vertical shaft141b formed in a one-piece construction with the gear base 145 in itsmiddle region such that the gear is free to rotate. This intermediategear 147 engages with an input gear 148 formed in a one-piececonstruction on the underside of the driven pulley 145 and with anoutput gear 149 formed in a one-piece construction with the underside ofthe pinion 138, these gears 148, 147 and 149 comprising a reducing geartrain. This gear train and the belt 146 together comprise a pinion drivemechanism M4.

The input gear 148 is a sun gear. The pinion 138, output gear 149 andintermediate gear 147 form an epicyclic gear that executes a circularmotion along the outer circumference of the input gear 148.

The pinion 138 engages with the rack 136, and the upper end of the guidepin 139 engages free to move in the guide groove 137 as shown in FIG.15-FIG. 20.

The cam lever 142 is formed of a synthetic resin or the like. As shownin FIG. 21 and FIG. 22, a cylindrical boss 142a, formed in a one-piececonstruction with the cam lever 142 in its middle region, fits over theouter circumference of a vertical shaft formed in a one-piececonstruction with the chassis 111, the cam lever 142 being free torotate in directions C, D about the shaft. A partial gear 153 is formedin a one-piece construction on one edge of the base of the gear base141, and a partial gear 154 is formed in a one-piece construction on oneedge of one end of the cam lever 142. The partial gears 153, 154 engagewith each other.

A cam groove 155 shaped effectively like a letter Z, formed in aone-piece construction on one side of the boss 142a of the cam lever142, and a cam driven pin 156 formed in a one-piece construction on oneside of the tip of the lever 120, this pin 156 engaging freely in thecam groove 155, together form a cam drive mechanism M5. The cam groove155 comprises a low part 155a that is a horizontal step, a high part155b, and a slanting part 155c that directly join these two parts. Thelow part 155a is formed longer in a circular direction centered on theboss 142a.

The rack 136 formed in a one-piece construction with the underside ofthe tray 2, and the guide groove 137, are formed effectively in theshape of a letter J and are parallel to one another at a distance equalto the radius r₁₁ of the pinion 138, as shown in FIG. 19. The rack 136and groove 137 comprise straight portions 136a, 137a that are parallelto the direction a that is the loading direction of the tray 2, firstarc-shaped portions 136b, 137b and second arc-shaped portions 136c,137c. These arc-shaped portions are smoothly joined in order to the endsin the b direction, that is the ejection direction, of the straightportions 136a, 137a, and are parallel to each other with the guidegroove 137 on the inside.

The curvature radius r₁₂ of the center of the second arc-shaped portion137c that is smoothly joined to the first arc-shaped portion 137b of theguide groove 137, is equal to the rotation radius of the center of theguide pin 139 that rotates in the directions A, B around the center O₁₁of the pivot shaft 143. The first arc-shaped portion 137b that issmoothly joined to the straight portion 137a is formed like an arc abouta virtual center O₁₂, the curvature radius r₁₃ of the center of thisfirst arc-shaped portion 137b being smaller than the curvature radiusr₁₂ of the second arc-shaped portion 137c.

The curvature radius of the first arc-shaped portion 136b of the rack136 is formed equal to r₁₃ +r₁₁, and the curvature radius of the secondarc-shaped portion 136c is formed equal to r₁₂ +r₁₁.

Emergency Eject Mechanism

Next, an emergency eject mechanism M6 will be described with referenceto FIG. 15-FIG. 23.

First, this emergency eject mechanism M6 comprises an eject cammechanism M7 comprising the first arc-shaped portion 137b whereof thecurvature radius r₁₃ of the effectively J-shaped guide groove 137 of thedisk tray 2 is small, and the guide pin 139 on the tip of the gear base141, as shown in FIG. 19.

An emergency eject slider 161 is disposed at the far rear of theemergency eject hole 108 inside the front panel 1a of the body 1 of thedisk apparatus, as is shown in particular detail in FIG. 21-FIG. 23.

This emergency eject slider 161 is formed in an effectively L-shapecomprising a flat plate 161a and vertical plate 161b made of a syntheticresin, such that the slider can move in a straight line in a guidegroove 162 parallel to the directions a, b formed in the chassis 111. Arecess 161c is formed in a one-piece construction in the vertical plate161b on the side of the front panel 1a opposite the emergency eject hole108.

An arm 142b that extends on the opposite side to the partial gear 154 ofthe cam lever 142, comes into contact with this vertical plate 161b ofthe emergency eject slider 161 from the direction b.

The emergency eject means therefore comprises the emergency eject slider161 and the cam lever 142.

Disk Tray Loading

First, when the disk tray 2 has been completely ejected in the directionb shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 3, the positions of the pinion 138 and guidepin 139 are fixed by the end positions on the a direction side of thestraight portions 136a, 137a of the rack 136 and guide groove 137 of thetray 2, as shown by the double dot-and-dash line of FIG. 19.

Next, when the aforesaid loading switch is switched ON, the motor 140 ofthe disk tray drive mechanism M3 shown in FIG. 15-FIG. 17, is rotated ina clockwise direction, and the pinion 138 is rotated in a clockwisedirection E shown by the double-dot-and-dash line of FIG. 19 via thepinion drive mechanism M4.

The guide pin 139 then engages with the straight portion 137a of theguide groove 137, free rotation in the directions A, B around the pivotshaft 143 of the gear base 141 being restrained by this guide pin 139.The pinion 138 therefore rotates smoothly in the direction E at a fixedposition, and the straight portion 136a of the rack 136 is drivensmoothly in the direction a.

The tray 2 is thus loaded in the direction a in the body 1 of the diskapparatus together with the rack 136, while the pinion 138 and guide pin139 move along the straight portion 137a of the guide groove 137relatively in the direction b.

The loading of the tray 2 in the direction a continues, and finally, thepinion 138 and guide pin 139 reach the intersection P₁₁ between thecenter line of the straight portion 137a and the center line of thefirst arc-shaped portion 137b of the guide groove 137, as shown by thesolid lines in FIG. 15 and FIG. 19.

As the pinion 138 continues to rotate in the clockwise direction E, thepinion 138 moves in the direction B along the first arc-shaped portion136b of the rack 136, the gear base 141 is rotated in the direction Babout the pivot shaft 143 as center O₁₁, and the guide pin 139 advancesin the direction B along the first arc-shaped portion 137b of the guidegroove 137.

As the curvature radius r₁₃ of the center of the first arc-shapedportion 137b of the guide groove 137 is formed smaller than the rotationradius of the center of the guide pin 139 around the pivot shaft 143 ascenter O₁₁, the speed of motion of the disk tray 2 in the direction a isreduced.

In other words, the distance L₁ in the direction a, b between theintersection P₁₂ of the extrapolation in the direction A of the centerline of the second arc-shaped portion 137c of the guide groove 137formed with a curvature radius r₁₂, equal to the rotation radius of theguide pin 139 around the pivot shaft 143 as center O₁₁, with theextrapolation in the direction b of the center line of the straightportion 137a, and the intersection P₁₁ of the center line of thestraight portion 137a with the center line of the first arc-shapedportion 137b, is set to for example approx. 10.5 mm, as shown in FIG.19, so the speed of motion of the tray 2 in the direction a within thisdistance L₁ is thereby reduced.

When the pinion 138 and guide pin 139 reach the intersection P₁₃ betweenthe center line of the first arc-shaped portion 137b and the center lineof the second arc-shaped portion 137c of the guide groove 137, as shownby the dot-and-dash lines in FIG. 16 and FIG. 19, the tray 2 iscompletely inserted in the direction a in the body 1 of the diskapparatus, and loading of the tray 2 is complete.

As the pinion 138 continues to rotate in the clockwise direction E, thepinion 138 moves in the direction B along the second arc-shaped portion136c of the rack 136. The distance moved by the pinion 138 in thedirection B in the second arc-shaped portion 136c is an overstroke step.Due to this overstroke of the pinion 138 in the direction B, the gearbase 141 continues to rotate in the direction B about the pivot shaft143 as center O₁₁, and the guide pin 139 advances in the direction B inthe second arc-shaped portion 137c of the guide groove 137.

As the curvature radius r₁₂ of the center of the second arc-shapedportion 137c of the guide groove 137 is formed smaller than the rotationradius of the center of the guide pin 139 about the pivot shaft 143 ascenter O₁₁, the guide pin 139 moves smoothly in the direction B in thesecond arc-shaped portion 137c, and the tray 2 is then held in theloading complete position.

The fact that the pinion 138 and guide pin 139 have reached the endpoint P₁₄ of the second arc-shaped portion 137c of the guide groove, asshown by the dot-and-dash line in FIG. 19, is detected by a detectingswitch, not shown, from the rotation angle of the gear base 141, forexample, and the eject motor 140 stops.

As the pinion 138 advances in the direction B from the point P₁₁ via thepoint P₁₂ to the point P₁₄, as shown in FIG. 15-FIG. 19, the gear base141 is rotated in the direction B from the position shown in FIG. 15 tothe position shown in FIG. 17 about the pivot shaft 143 as center, andthe cam lever 142 is rotated via the partial gears 153, 154 in thedirection D from the position shown in FIG. 15 to the position shown inFIG. 17. The cam groove 155 of the cam lever 142 then moves in thedirection D relative to the cam driven pin 156.

As the pinion 138 is moving in a direction f from the point P₁₁ to thepoint P₁₃, the cam driven pin 156 of the base unit drive lever 120 movesrelatively in the direction C in the low part 155A of the cam groove 155of the cam lever 142, as shown in FIG. 22A.

As the pinion 138 is performing overstroke in the direction B from thepoint P₁₃ to the end point, P₁₄, the cam driven pin 156 is lifted in adirection d via the slanting part 155c to the high part 155b of the camgroove 155, and the lever 120 is rotated in the direction d, as shown inFIG. 22B.

Due to the overshoot in the direction B of the pinion 138 after loadingof the tray 2 in the direction a is complete. The base unit 9 is rotatedin the direction d from the descent position shown in FIG. 25 to theascent position shown in FIG. 26 by the lever 120. Chucking of the disk4 by the aforesaid disk chucking mechanism M1 is performed, and the disk4 is pushed up above the recess 3 of the tray 2 by magnetic chuckingonto the disk table 6.

Disk Tray Ejection

Next, when the aforesaid eject switch is switched ON, or when an ejectsignal is issued by the host computer, the motor 140 of the loading anddisk tray drive mechanism M3 is rotated in the reverse direction, andthe tray 2 is ejected in the direction b in the body 1 of the diskapparatus by the reverse sequence of actions to loading. In other words,when the pinion 138 is rotated in the reverse direction F by the motor140 at the end point P₁₄ of the second arc-shaped portion 137c of theguide groove 137 shown by the dot-and-dash lines in FIG. 17 and FIG. 19,the pinion 138 returns from overstroke in the direction e from the endpoint P₁₄ to the point P₁₃ shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 16 and FIG.19 along the second arc-shaped portion 136c of the rack 136, and thegear base 141 is rotated in the direction A from the position shown inFIG. 17 to the position shown in FIG. 16.

The cam lever 142 is then rotated via the partial gears 153, 154 in thedirection C from the position shown in FIG. 17 to the position shown inFIG. 16, the cam driven pin 156 falls under its own weight from the highpart 155b via the slanting part 155c to the low part 155a of the camgroove 155, and the lever 120 is rotated in the direction c under itsown weight, as shown in FIG. 22A.

The base unit 9 is rotated together with the lever 120 from the ascentposition shown in FIG. 26 to the descent position shown in FIG. 25, thechucking of the disk 4 by the aforesaid disk chucking mechanism M1 isreleased, and the disk 4 is again mounted in the recess 3 of the tray 2.

The pinion 138 continues to be rotated in the reverse direction F, andthe pinion 138 and guide pin 139 advance in the direction e from theintersection point P₁₃ shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 16 and FIG. 19along the first arc-shaped portions 136b, 137b of the rack 136 and guidegroove 137, to the intersection point P₁₁ shown by the solid lines inFIG. 15 and FIG. 19.

Due to the cam action of the eject cam mechanism M7, comprising thefirst arc-shaped portion 137b of the guide groove 137 and the guide pin139 of the emergency eject mechanism M6, i,.e. due to a force componentF0 in the direction a shown in FIG. 16 that is produced when the guidepin 139 presses an arc surface 137b' of the first arc-shaped portion137b of the guide groove 137, the tray 2 is pushed out from the body 1of the disk apparatus by a distance L₁.

Further, the cam driven pin 156 is moved relatively in the direction Din the low part 155a of the can groove 155, as shown in FIG. 22A.

As the pinion 138 continues to rotate clockwise in the direction F, theguide pin 139 drives the straight part 136a of the rack 136 in thedirection b. The tray 2 is therefore ejected in the direction b from thebody 1 of the disk apparatus, and the pinion 138 and guide pin 139 movealong the straight portion 137b of the guide groove 137 relatively inthe direction a to the position shown by the double dot-and-dash line inFIG. 19.

A pair of left and right projections 173 formed in a one-piececonstruction on the end in the direction a of the left and right lateralsurfaces of the tray 2, then come into contact with a pair of left andright stoppers 172 formed in a one-piece construction with the end inthe b direction of the left and right side walls 111a of the chassis111, as shown in FIG. 24, thereby completing the ejection of the tray 2.This completion of ejection of the tray 2 is detected by an ejectcompletion switch, not shown, and the motor 140 stops.

Emergency Eject

When the disk is in the loaded state shown in FIG. 29 or FIG. 30, anemergency eject member 109 is inserted from the direction a, from theemergency eject hole 108. The tip of the member 109 is then pushedagainst the recess 161c of the emergency eject slider 161, and theslider 161 is pushed out in the direction a by a distance L₂ from theposition shown by the dot-and-dash line to the position shown by thesolid line in FIG. 23.

The vertical plate 161b of this slider 161 then pushes the arm 142b ofthe cam lever 142 in the direction a by the same distance L₂, the camlever 142 is rotated in the direction C from the position shown in FIG.17 to the position shown in FIG. 15, and the gear base 141 is rotatedvia the partial gears 153, 154 from the position shown in FIG. 17 to theposition shown in FIG. 15.

Due to the rotation in the direction C of the cam lever 142 from theposition shown in FIG. 17 to the position shown in FIG. 15, the baseunit 9 is caused to descend in the direction c under its own weighttogether with the lever 120 from the ascent position shown in FIG. 26 tothe descent position shown in FIG. 25, and chucking release of the disktable 6 from the disk 4 is performed as in the case of the aforesaideject operation of the tray 2.

After the chucking of the disk 4 is released, the guide pin 139 of thegear base 141 driven in the direction A pushes the arc surface 137b' ofthe first arc-shaped portion 137 of the guide groove 137 in thedirection A, as shown in FIG. 19. Due to the force component F0 in thedirection a shown in FIG. 16 produced by this cam action, the tray 2 isgently pushed out by a distance L₁ in the direction b from the body 1 ofthe disk apparatus, as shown by the dot-and-dash line in FIG. 15.

The tray 2 may therefore be easily pushed out in the direction b by adistance L₁ from the body 1 of the disk apparatus simply by gentlypushing the slider 161 in the direction a using the member 109.

Subsequently, the tray 2 may be completely withdrawn in the direction bfrom the body 1 of the disk apparatus as shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 3 bygrasping the front panel 1a of the tray 2, and the disk 4 removed. Thiscompletes the emergency eject operation.

Base Unit Damping Device

Next, a damping device that permits the base unit 9 to float elasticallyin the chassis 111 will be described with reference to FIG. 33-FIG. 35.

This damping device is attached to the base unit 9 that is formed ofsynthetic resin comprising the disk table 6 fixed to the spindle 12a ofthe spindle motor 12, and an optical pickup 7 provided with a carriage127 carrying an object lens 36, and a linear motor for driving thecarriage. The damping device is elastically supported above the chassis111 and lever 20 by three fixing screws 91 with flanges 91a and steps91b, using effectively cylindrical insulators 90 formed of rubber or thelike at two points to the left and right of one edge 9a of the base unit9, and one point effectively in the middle of the other edge 9b.

The three fixing screws 91 are inserted in hollows 90a of the threeinsulators 90 from above, and screwed vertically into cylindrical bosses92 formed in a one-piece construction with the chassis 111 and lever 20.Circular holes 90b, 90c in the upper and lower ends of these insulators90 are coaxially fitted over the outer circumference of the step 91b onthe upper surface of each screw 91, and the upper edges of theseinsulators are pushed down by the flanges 91a of the screws 91. Then,three effectively 3/4 arc-shaped horizontal fixing flanges 94 formed ina one-piece construction are fitted horizontally oriented in threedirections at three points on the outer circumference of the base unit 9in a recess 93 formed in the middle, in an axial direction, of the outercircumference of the three insulators 90, so as to support the threepoints on the outer circumference of the base unit 9 elastically.

The other edge 9b of the base unit is driven by the base unit drivelever 20 in the directions c, d that are the up/down directions, so thatthe base unit 9 is raised and lowered in the direction c, d by pivotingon the insulators 90 at the two points on the edge 9a.

According to this damping mechanism, if coordinates are taken where thetracking direction of the object lens 126 of the optical pickup 7 is X,the focusing direction is Z, and the direction at right angles to boththe X and Z directions is Y (tangential direction with respect to thetrack recorded on the disk 4), when the disk apparatus is usedhorizontally and the body 1 is installed horizontally, externalvibrations acting on the base unit 9 in the X, Y, Z directions areeffectively damped by the three insulators 90, as shown in FIG. 29, 31,32.

As shown in the examples of FIGS. 33-35, a clearance G₂ of approx. 1.2mm with respect to the lateral face of the screw 91 is formed inside theinsulator 90 giving a large play in the X, Y, Z directions so as toprovide sufficient damping in these directions. When the disk apparatusis used vertically with the body 1 vertical, as shown in FIG. 30,therefore, operation of the apparatus is adversely affected due to thislarge clearance G₂.

In other words, when the body is placed vertical, the base unit 9 isalso vertical. The base unit 9 is then displaced easily in the Y and Zdirections under its own weight with respect to the three screws 91 sothat the disk 4, that has been chucked on the disk table 6 and isrotating, may unexpectedly come into contact with the tray 2. Focusingerrors of the lens 126 on the disk 4 may also occur.

If the rigidity of the insulators 90 in the X, Y, Z directions is merelyincreased, the displacement of the base unit 9 becomes smaller, howeverthe damping of external vibrations (shock resistance) is then impaired.

Next, a damping device M8 that resolves the aforesaid problems will bedescribed.

First, the optical pickup 7 in this type of device has thecharacteristic that it is very weak with respect to external vibrationsin the X direction, extremely strong with respect to external vibrationsin the Y direction, and fairly strong with respect to vibrations in theZ direction. X, Y, Z refer to the X axis (focusing direction), Y axis(tangential direction to track recorded on the disk) and Z axis shown inFIG. 8.

In this damping device M8 for the base unit 9, three insulators 119, 123are provided so that the base unit 9 is stabilized, giving adequatedamping (shock resistance) in the X direction, and minimal displacementin the Y and Z directions. As shown in FIG. 30, excessive displacementin the Y and Z directions when the body 1 is installed vertically isthereby prevented, and problems of contact of the disk 4 with the table6, and of focusing errors of the object lens 126, are resolved. Further,even in the horizontal position shown in FIG. 29, the play (leeway) inthe Y direction of the base unit 9 is minimized, so that the chuckingaction of the centering piece 6a of the table 6 on the center hole 4a ofthe disk 4 loaded in the tray 2 is performed with higher reliability.

Even with regard to damping of external vibrations (shock resistance) ofthe base unit 9 when the body 1 of the disk apparatus is usedhorizontally as shown in FIG. 29, the damping effect is equivalent to orgreater than that obtained in the case of the insulators shown in FIG.33-FIG. 35, and a substantially similar effect to the horizontalposition is obtained in the vertical position shown in FIG. 30.

In other words, in this damping device M8, the edge 9a in the directiona of the base unit 9 is elastically supported on the chassis 111 via thetwo insulators 119, and the middle part of the edge 9b in the directionb of the base unit 9 is elastically supported on the lever 120 by theinsulator 123, as shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9.

The three insulators 119, 123, which are formed of rubber or the like inan effectively cylindrical shape, are attached vertically and coaxiallywith fixing screws 118, 122 having flanges 118a, 122a and steps 118b,122b that screw vertically into bosses 192 on the chassis 111 and lever120, these screws 118, 122 being inserted from above into hollows 119a,123a in the insulators 119, 123 as shown in FIG. 10, FIG. 12 and FIG.13. Fixing flanges 194 effectively shaped like 3/4 arcs of the outercircumference of the base unit 9 are fitted horizontally in recessgrooves 193 in the outer circumference of these insulators 119, 123.

A pair of left and right outer ribs 170 parallel to the Y and Zdirections and formed in a one-piece construction, extend from the lowerends of the insulators 119, 123 to an approximately middle position inthe axial direction on the outside of the insulators as shown in FIG. 10and FIG. 11.

Due to this pair of left and right outer ribs 17, deformation ordisplacement of the insulators 119, 123 in the X direction is fullyallowed, while their deformation or displacement in the Z direction isminimized.

A pair of mutually opposite left and right inner ribs 171 is formed in aone-piece construction extending from the Y direction inside theinsulators 119, 123, as shown in FIG. 10-FIG. 13.

The clearance G₁ between the tips of this pair of left and right innerribs 171 and the lateral surfaces of the fixing screws 118, 122 isarranged to be only 0.2 mm, as shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13. Hence, whenthe insulators 119, 123 deform or displace in the Y direction, theseribs 171 come into contact with the lateral faces of the screws 118,122, thereby minimizing the deformation or displacement in the Ydirection of the insulators 119, 123.

When the insulators 119, 123 deform or displace in the X direction, theribs 171 do not come into contact with the lateral faces of the screws118, 122, hence deformation or displacement of the insulators 119, 123in the X direction is fully allowed.

A pair of left and right rib grooves 172 is formed in the Y direction onthe outer circumference of each of the three fixing flanges 194 of thebase unit 9, as shown in FIG. 8, FIG. 9, FIG. 12 and FIG. 13.

When the three insulators 119, 123 are engaged with the three fixingflanges 194 of the base unit 9 by means of the recess grooves 193, theribs 170 engage with the grooves 172. The positions in the Y directionof the three insulators 119, 123 can therefore be simply and accuratelyadjusted with respect to the base unit 9.

Next, of the three insulators 119, 123, the insulator 123 that supportseffectively the middle part of the edge 9b of the base unit 9, supportsa position near the heavy spindle motor 12 to which the disk table 6 isattached, as shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9. The hardness of the rubber orother material whereof this insulator 123 is formed, is thereforearranged to be greater than the hardness of the rubber or other materialof the other two insulators 119. The deformation or displacement in theX, Y, Z directions of the single insulator 123 supporting a point nearthe spindle motor 12, is therefore of the same order as the deformationor displacement of the two insulators 119 in the X, Y, Z directions, asshown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13.

Therefore, although the weight of the spindle motor 12 acts mainly onthe other edge 9b of the base unit 9, this other edge 9b is firmlysupported elastically by the insulator 123, and the three points on theouter circumference of the base unit 9 are supported elastically in astable, well-balanced fashion by the three insulators 119, 123.

According to the damping device M8 of the base unit 9 as describedhereintofore, deformation or displacement of the insulators 119, 123 inthe X direction is fully allowed, whereas their deformation ordisplacement in the Y and Z directions is minimized. The base unit 9 istherefore fully damped (shock resistance) in the X direction, whereasthe amount of its displacement and play (leeway) in the Y and Zdirections is minimized by the pair of left and right outer ribs 170 andinner ribs 171.

Next, some modifications of the insulators 119, 123 will be describedwith reference to FIGS. 14A, 14B, and 14C.

FIG. 14A shows the case where the ribs 170 are formed over the wholelength of the insulators 119, 123. FIG. 14B shows the case where theribs 170 are formed effectively in the middle, in the axial direction,of the insulators 119, 123. FIG. 14C shows the case where the ribs 171are formed over the whole length of the insulators 119, 123.

Disk Table Centering Piece

Next, the disk table 6 will be described with reference to FIG. 27 andFIG. 28.

The effectively conical centering piece 6a is fitted coaxially on theupper surface of the disk table 6, the outer circumferential surface ofthis centering piece 6a having a taper surface comprising two stages,viz. a large taper surface 6b at the tip having a taper angle of forexample, 45°, and a small taper surface 6c at the base having a taperangle of for example 85°.

When the disk apparatus is used vertically, the disk 4 is loaded in thebody 1 of the apparatus such that it is held vertically in the recess 3of the disk tray 2, as shown in FIG. 27.

The disk 4 then stands on the lower edge of the effectively arc-shapedouter circumference 3c inside the recess 3, and is loaded unevenly, forexample leaning on an upper pawl 14.

When loading of the disk 4 in the body 1 is complete, the table 6 movestogether with the spindle motor 12 in the direction d as shown in FIG.28. The centering piece 6a then engages with the center hole 4a of thedisk 4, the disk 4 floats up on the table 6 in the direction d from thebase 3a of the recess 3, and the disk 4 is magnetically chuckedvertically from the direction c onto the table 6 by the chucking pulley8, as described hereintofore.

During the disk chucking operation, the center hole 4a of the disk 4slides relatively in the direction c on the taper surface 6b at the tipof the centering piece 6a, and when chucking is complete, the centerhole 4a of the disk 4 is pushed further in the direction c right to theend of the taper surface 6c at the base of the centering piece 6 so thatthere is no play of the disk 4 on the centering piece 6a.

Dimensioning of Disk Tray and Disk Table Relative to Disk

Dimensioning of the recess 3 of the tray 2 and the centering piece 6a ofthe table 6 relative to the disk 4, will now be described with referenceto FIG. 27 and FIG. 28.

First, the diameter φ₁ of the disk 4 is set to 120±0.3 mm, and thediameter φ₂ of its center hole 4a is set to 15₀ ⁺⁰.1 mm.

The diameter φ₃ of the effectively cylindrical outer circumferentialsurface 3c of the recess 3 of the tray 2 is set to approx. 123 mm.

Next, the minimum diameter φ₄ of the taper surface 6b at the tip of thecentering piece 6a of the table 6 is set to 11.3 mm, and the maximumdiameter φ₅ of the taper surface 6c at the base of the piece 6a is setto 15±0.1 mm (negative values are taken as 0).

Due to the aforesaid dimensioning,

    (15-11.3)/2=1.85 (mm)

Therefore, even if the center P₁₁ of the disk 4 is shifted by a maximumof 1.85 mm with respect to the center P₁₀ of the table 6, the centerhole 4a of the disk 4 can still be placed on the outer circumference ofthe centering piece 6a of the table 6.

Moreover, if the diameter φ₃ of the effectively cylindrical outercircumference 3a of the recess 3a of the tray 2 is set to approx. 123mm, in the state prior to disk chucking shown in FIG. 27, the shift ofthe center P₁₁ of the disk 4 is 1.5 mm with respect to the center P₁₀ ofthe table 6. Then, during disk chucking shown in FIG. 28, there is aleeway of 1.8-1.5 =0.3 (mm), the center hole 4a of the disk 4 fitseasily and surely over the outer circumference 6a of the centering piece6a of the table 6, and disk chucking of the disk 4 on the table 6 isperformed reliably without any error.

Moreover, when the disk chucking operation shown in FIG. 28 is complete,an ample clearance G₁₀, i.e.

    (123-120)/2=1.5 (mm)

is maintained between the outer circumferential surface 4c of the disk 4and the inner circumferential surface 3c of the recess 3 of the tray 2.

Therefore, even if the base unit 9 is floating elastically via the threeinsulators 119, 123 with respect to the chassis 111 in order to improveshock resistance as described hereintofore, there is no risk that theouter circumferential surface 4c of the disk 4, that is rotated togetherwith the table 6 by the spindle motor 12, will unexpectedly come intocontact with the inner circumferential surface 3c of the recess 3 of thetray 2 when the disk is played back, so the disk 4 can be rotated safelyand with a high degree of stability. High precision reproduction of thedisk 4 by the object lens 126 of the optical pickup 7 can therefore beperformed.

This invention has been described in the case of one embodiment, howeverthe invention is not limited to this embodiment, various modificationsbeing possible based on the technical concepts presented therein.

The disk apparatus according to this invention described hereinabove,therefore has the following advantages.

In the disk apparatus according to this invention, when the apparatus isused vertically, the outer circumference of a disk inserted in a recessin a disk tray is held on its outer circumference by four pawls so thatit can be loaded vertically in the apparatus. The four pawls aredisposed at effectively symmetrical positions with respect to the centerline in the width direction of the tray, the intervals between the fourpawls with respect to the center of the recess are set such that thedisk can be inserted in or removed from the recess by sliding it betweenthe four pawls, and as the four pawls are fixed, the pawls can be formedin a one-piece construction with the tray. The construction andmanufacture of the apparatus are therefore very simple, and theapparatus can be produced at low cost.

In the disk apparatus according to this invention, one apparatus can beused either horizontally or in two vertical directions. In particular,the apparatus can be stood vertically in a space inside a computer orother instrument, so space saving is achieved.

In the disk apparatus according to this invention, when the apparatus isused vertically, the outer circumference of the disk inserted in therecess in the disk tray is held on its outer circumference by aplurality of pawls so that it can be loaded vertically in the apparatus.At least one of this plurality of pawls can move freely between aposition inside the recess and a position outside the recess. When theapparatus is used horizontally, this pawl is moved outside the recess sothat when the disk is inserted in the recess, the pawl does not cause anobstruction. When the apparatus is used vertically, the pawl is movedinside the recess so as to hold the disk vertically in the recess. Theapparatus is therefore convenient to use.

In the disk apparatus according to this invention, the outercircumference of the recess is effectively perpendicular to the base ofthe recess so that, when the apparatus is used vertically, the disk isheld even more stably in the recess 3.

In the disk apparatus according to this invention, when the apparatus isused vertically, the outer circumference of the disk inserted in therecess in the disk tray is held on its outer circumference by aplurality of pawls so that it can be loaded vertically in the apparatus.The plurality of pawls are formed of elastic bodies, and as the pawlsare bent against an elastic force when the disk is inserted in orremoved from the recess, disk insertion and removal are simple.

In the disk apparatus according to this invention, the pawls formed ofelastic bodies are provided at four points on the outer circumference ofthe recess such that they are effectively symmetrical with respect tothe center line of the width direction of the tray. The apparatus maytherefore be freely used in three directions, i.e. the horizontaldirection and two vertical directions.

In the disk apparatus according to this invention, outer walls formingthe outer circumference effectively perpendicular to the base of therecess, are formed in a one-piece construction as an elastic body withthe plurality of pawls having elasticity. The outer circumference of thedisk inserted in the recess is therefore protected by the outer wallshaving elasticity, and as the outer circumference of the recess forms anacute angle with the base of the recess, the disk is held even morestably and reliably in a vertical position when the apparatus is usedvertically.

In the disk apparatus according to this invention, when the apparatus isused vertically, the outer circumference of the disk inserted in therecess in the disk tray is held on its outer circumference by aplurality of pawls so that it can be loaded vertically in the apparatus.When the diameter of the disk is approx. 120 mm and the diameter of itscenter hole is approx. 15 mm, the diameter of the outer circumferentialsurface of the recess in the tray is set to approx. 123 mm, the minimumdiameter of the taper surface of the outer circumference of thecentering piece of the disk table on which the center hole of the diskis fitted, is set to approx. 11 mm. Hence, after the disk has beenloaded in the apparatus and chucked on the table, the center hole can beeasily and reliably slid onto the outer circumference of the centeringpiece of the table, so that chucking is performed without error and witha high degree of reliability. Even after the chucking operation iscomplete, an ample space is left between the outer circumferentialsurface of the disk and the outer circumferential surface of the recessin the table so that when the disk is rotated, there is no risk that theouter circumferential surface of the disk may unexpectedly come intocontact with the outer circumferential surface of the recess. The diskis therefore safely and stably rotated.

In the disk apparatus according to this invention, the base unit towhich the disk table and optical pickup are fitted, is elasticallysupported in the body of the apparatus by a plurality of effectivelycylindrical insulators. Deformation or displacement of these insulatorsin the X direction, which is the tracking direction of the opticalpickup, is fully allowed, whereas deformation or displacement in the Zdirection, which is the focusing direction, and the Y direction which isperpendicular to both the X and Z directions (tangential direction tothe track recorded on the disk), are minimized. Damping of the base unitin the X direction is therefore adequate, whereas the displacementamount in the Y and Z directions is minimized. In this way, excessdisplacement of the base unit in the Y and Z directions when theapparatus is used vertically is prevented, hence contact of the diskwith the tray and focusing errors are also definitively prevented sothat reliability of the apparatus is greatly improved.

In the disk apparatus according to this invention, as deformation ordisplacement of the plurality of insulators in the X direction is fullyallowed, high damping of external vibrations acting on the base unit(shock resistance) is obtained both when it is used horizontally andwhen it is used vertically.

In the disk apparatus according to this invention, deformation ordisplacement of the plurality of insulators in the Y direction isminimized, so that even when the apparatus is used horizontally, thereis very little play (leeway) of the base unit in the Y direction, andchucking onto the table of the disk that is mounted on the tray andloaded, is performed with higher reliability.

In the disk apparatus according to this invention, a pair of outer ribsare formed in a one-piece construction parallel to the Y and Zdirections on the outer surface of each of the plurality of insulators.Deformation or displacement of this plurality of insulators in the Zdirection is therefore minimized, construction of the insulators issimple, and their manufacture is easy.

In the disk apparatus according to this invention, a pair of inner ribsformed opposite each other from the Y direction, are respectively formedin a one-piece construction on the inside of the plurality ofinsulators. This pair of inner ribs comes into contact with a pluralityof fixing screws respectively inserted in the plurality of insulators.Deformation or displacement in the Y direction is therefore minimized,construction of the insulators is simple, and their manufacture is easy.

In the disk apparatus according to this invention, a plurality ofinsulators is attached to support members by a plurality of fixingscrews respectively inserted in the plurality of insulators. A pluralityof effectively arc-shaped flanges formed on the base unit engage withrecess grooves formed in the middle, in an axial direction, of the outercircumferences of the plurality of insulators, and the pair of outerribs are made to engage with a pair of rib grooves parallel to the Ydirection respectively formed on the outer circumferences of theplurality of fixing flanges, so positioning of the insulators when theinsulators are assembled is rendered easier and more accurate.

In the disk apparatus according to the invention, three points on theouter circumference of the base unit are elastically supported by theaforesaid three insulators. Deformation or displacement in the X, Y, Zdirections of an insulator that supports one point at a position nearthe disk table, is arranged to be less than the deformation ordisplacement in the X, Y, Z directions of the insulators supporting theother two points. The point on the base unit: whereupon the weight ofthe heavy spindle motor to which the table is attached acts, istherefore firmly and elastically supported by a single insulator, andthe three points on the outer circumference of the base unit aresupported by the three insulators stably and elastically in awell-balanced fashion.

What is claimed is:
 1. A disk drive apparatus for driving a disk recording medium comprising:a disk drive apparatus body, a disk tray comprising a recess that houses a disk recording medium horizontally in said disk drive apparatus body, and wherein said disk recording medium is loaded, a plurality of pawls provided in effectively symmetrical positions with respect to the width direction of said tray on the outer circumference of said recess, forming pockets that engage with a part of the outer circumference of said disk recording medium along the outer circumference of said tray, at least two of said pawls is rotatably mounted to be selectively fixed in a first position where the at least two pawls extend into the recess to form said pockets so that when said disk drive apparatus body is oriented substantially vertically, the outer circumference of said disk recording medium housed in the recess of said tray is rotatably held within said recess by said plurality of pawls when the disk recording medium is played back between said plurality of pawls, and a second position where the at least two pawls are located outside the recess so that said disk can be removed from said recess.
 2. A disk drive apparatus as defined in claim 1, comprising four of said pawls, wherein the distances from the center of said recess to the nearest edges of said four pawls, are respectively less than the radius of said disk recording medium, and wherein the distance from the nearest edge of one pawl on a diagonal connecting the centers of two mutually diagonal pawls, to the outer circumference of said recess at the other pawl, is slightly larger than the diameter of said disk recording medium.
 3. A disk drive apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the outer circumferential surface of said recess is vertical with respect to the base of said recess.
 4. A disk drive apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said pawls are formed of elastic bodies.
 5. A disk drive apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein the outer circumferential surface of said recess is formed in a one-piece construction with said pawls.
 6. A disk drive apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising a disk table having a centering piece over which the center hole of said disk recording medium is fitted,the diameter of said disk recording medium being approx. 120 mm, the diameter of its center hole being approx. 15 mm, the diameter of said disk tray being approx. 123 mm, and the minimum diameter of a taper surface formed on the outer circumference of said centering piece being approx. 11 mm.
 7. A disk drive apparatus for driving a disk recording medium comprising:a disk drive apparatus body, a disk tray comprising a recess that houses a disk recording medium horizontally in said disk drive apparatus body, and wherein said disk recording medium is loaded, a plurality of pawls provided in effectively symmetrical positions with respect to the width direction of said tray on the outer circumference of said recess, forming pockets that engage with a part of the outer circumference of said disk recording medium along the outer circumference of said tray, at least two of said pawls is slidably mounted to be selectively fixed in a first position where the at least two pawls extend into the recess to form said pockets so that when said disk drive apparatus body is oriented substantially vertically, the outer circumference of said disk recording medium housed in the recess of said tray is rotatably held within said recess by said plurality of pawls when the disk recording medium is played back between said plurality of pawls, and a second position where the at least two pawls are located outside the recess so that said disk can be removed from said recess.
 8. A disk drive apparatus for driving a disk recording medium comprising:a disk drive apparatus body, a disk tray comprising a recess that houses a disk recording medium horizontally in said disk drive apparatus body, and wherein said disk recording medium is loaded, a plurality of pawls provided in effectively symmetrical positions with respect to the width direction of said tray on the cuter circumference of said recess, forming pockets that engage with a part of the outer circumference of said disk recording medium along the outer circumference of said tray, at least two of said pawls is mounted to be selectively fixed in a first position where the at least two pawls extend into the recess to form said pockets so that when said disk drive apparatus body is oriented substantially vertically, the outer circumference of said disk recording medium housed in the recess of said tray is rotatably held within said recess by said plurality of pawls when the disk recording medium is played back between said plurality of pawls, and a second position where the at least two pawls bend so that said disk can be inserted and removed from said recess. 